More Space Than You Thought – Podcast 29

Fern Richardson grows “tons of herbs,” “tons of succulents,” lots of vegetables, and at least six trees—on a balcony. I’m not quite sure of the tree count, because after I counted to six, I’m afraid my hearing did the auditory equivalent of glazing over—I just wasn’t entirely functional for a moment there.

When she was listing them—the kumquat, the apricot, the fig, the two apple trees—I squawked “TWO?” so loudly that I had to lower the volume of that one word in the recording, to preserve my listeners’ hearing. There are two, Fern quite reasonably replied, because apple trees cross-pollinate with a nearby tree of a different variety.

I know this, of course, but still—two apple trees on a balcony? And lest you envision some Hollywood terrace big enough for a swimming pool, let me give you the exact dimensions of Fern’s garden space: four feet by ten. (4’ x 10’)

She’s an expert at getting the most out of a teeny tiny space, and she shares her knowledge with me on this week’s podcast. She’s just published her first book, the wonderful Small-Space Container Gardens: Transform Your Balcony, Porch, or Patio with Fruits, Flowers, Foliage & Herbs. We talk about the special challenges faced by people who garden in tiny spaces—wind, glaring sun, perpetual shadow, and of course, the lack of space. She has not one but at least three or four suggestions about how to use a wall or railing as garden space, and a similar range of ideas about creating vertical walls for privacy, wind barriers, or simple loveliness.

We had a few good laughs doing this show, and I actually told the story of how I once dealt with a cell-phone caller on a train. Fern’s chimes and fountains are a less aggressive shield against unwanted noise, though apparently she’s not afraid to push the envelope; some of her gardening tactics may not be entirely in accordance with her condo’s HOA rules.

Fern’s book left me feeling that there were endless possibilities for even the smallest gardening space—and that’s how I hope you feel after listening to the show.